Bandra Talao drained for first-ever rejuvenation as pollution wipes out aquatic life

Mumbai’s historic Swami Vivekanand Lake, popularly known as Bandra Talao, is undergoing dewatering and rejuvenation for the first time in recent history after a biodiversity survey found the water body to be in a severely degraded state with no surviving aquatic life.

Spread across 7.5 acres in Bandra West, the Grade-II heritage structure is one of the city’s prominent urban lakes. A baseline biodiversity survey commissioned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) H-West ward described the freshwater ecosystem as “highly degraded and eutrophic”, citing poor water quality and ecological decline in the densely populated residential and recreational area surrounding the lake.

Dinesh Pallewad, assistant municipal commissioner of H-West ward, said the lake took nearly 15 to 20 days to fully dewater.

“Currently, desilting work is in progress and will be completed before the monsoon. After that, natural springs in the lake and rainwater will help restart the ecosystem afresh,” Pallewad said.

Officials said no live aquatic species were found during the dewatering process. Only two dead turtles were recovered from the lakebed.

SEVERE POLLUTION BEHIND ECOLOGICAL COLLAPSE

Civic officials attributed the disappearance of aquatic life largely to pollution and stagnation in the lake.

Studies conducted at Bandra Talao found the average biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level at around 100 mg/litre — far above the less than 5 mg/litre typically seen in healthy lakes. High BOD levels indicate excessive organic pollution and severely depleted oxygen content in water.

To prevent further deterioration, the BMC plans to construct a 1 million litres per day (MLD) sewage treatment plant near the lake.

“The treated water will be reintroduced into the waterbody to improve circulation and address stagnation and poor aeration,” Pallewad added.

CALLS FOR TIMELY COMPLETION

Cabinet minister and Bandra West MLA Ashish Shelar recently inspected the rejuvenation work and directed BMC officials to expedite the project.

Former Bandra West corporator Asif Zakaria said the restoration effort was crucial for the locality.

“Bandra lake is an integral part of Bandra. The declining water quality perhaps had more to do with decades of stagnation and lack of continuous aeration and oxygenation. We hope these mistakes are not repeated and citizens get a clean lake,” Zakaria said.